Proposed TN bill eases up penalties on having no gun carry permit

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – While the country continues the debate on guns, Shooters Depot has been busier than normal.

“People are concerned, now, that they are going to be losing their privileges, and they’re already starting to see some of them whittled away down in Florida, and one state begets another state.  It continues like a snowball downhill.  So, it has stimulated the activity beyond way what it normally is this time of year,” Shooters Depot owner and handgun carry instructor John Martin said.

Guns have been a topic for Tennessee state lawmakers.

One proposed bill eases up penalties for those caught carrying without a permit, and that’s something Martin doesn’t agree with.

“It’s going to open the doors for more and more people to be negligent in their due diligence,” Martin said.

The bill reduces the punishment for carrying a gun without a permit for the first offense to $250 from $500.

“If we have a law on the books that says you have to have a permit, then enforce it.  If you don’t want to enforce it, or you want to lower the fine to where it makes it meaningless, then do away with it,” Tennessee State Senator Todd Gardenhire said.

Also, allowing law enforcement officers to confiscate ammunition was added to the bill.

Though the house has passed the bill, Republican State Sen. Gardenhire doesn’t believe it will get very far in the state senate.

“It has passed the house.  I don’t think it will even be brought to a vote in the senate,” he said.

To get the required permit to carry a handgun in Tennessee, a Handgun Carry Permit, one must meet several qualifications and requirements, including an approved handgun safety course.